Free Rise of the Serpent (Serpent's War Book 2) by Jason Halstead

sweet. Should make for some good white wines.”
    “You know something of wine?” Namitus asked.
    Gor smirked. “It’s got alcohol in it, doesn’t it?”
    “Gor…”
    Gor sighed at Allisandra’s warning tone. “I didn’t say I was drinking any now.”
    Namitus chuckled and tried to change the topic. “I thought we’d see more splisskin down this way.”
    Amra jerked her head around to look at him. “You want to see splisskin?”
    “The sooner we can start getting answers, the better,” Namitus said.
    Gor scowled. “Why would one of the snakes this way know anything?”
    “I have no idea if they would or not,” he admitted. “But if they really are trying to pull their numbers together, I’d think word would have spread.”
    “And you think they’ll just tell you?” Corian sneered.
    “If we ask the right way, they might.”
    Corian’s eyes narrowed in confusion. Before he could ask more, the barmaid turned from the table next to them and began to distribute the drinks on the platter she carried. She started to turn away and then thought better of it. “You seek splisskin?”
    Namitus turned and screwed up a smile. “Yes! Yes we are. I’m searching for genuine splisskin weapons, so I figured the best way to do it was to find a tribe of them and purchase them.”
    The barmaid stared at him with a smile that faded when his expression didn’t change. “You’re serious?”
    “As an ogre with a toothache.”
    She blinked and then let a laugh slip out. “Well, in that case, there’s a splisskin village in the plains to the west. A day and a half of walking, if you push hard.”
    “We’ve got horses,” Allisandra said.
    The barmaid turned and studied her. She smiled and nodded. “Then you’ll get there sooner. A day, with these rains.”
    Namitus grinned. “You’ve earned your tip!”
    She smiled. “I’ll have meals out in a bit.”
    Namitus nodded. “Sooner, if you can. I’ll make the cook’s wrath worth your while.”
    She smiled and hurried back through the common room to the kitchen. As she left, Corian turned his furrowed brow on Namitus. “Sooner? What’s the rush?”
    “We don’t want to come on the splisskin village at night, do we?”
    The elf’s eyebrows lowered further. “What’s that mean? Why would we?”
    “She said it’s a day’s ride, with the rain. So if we leave in the morning, we’ll show up at sunset. I’d rather we head out this afternoon.”
    “And sleep in the rain?” Amra squeaked.
    Namitus grinned. “No sense in putting off what can be done now. Besides, all this traveling is growing monotonous.”
    Amra sighed. “You’re right about that. This is taking too long. A day filled with riding is boring.”
    “You’re not complaining about your bottom hurting anymore, at least,” he pointed out.
    Amra blushed and took a drink of her ale. “I’m getting used to it,” she mumbled after swallowing.
    “Where’s the barmaid?” Corian wondered aloud. He tipped his cup and dripped the last few drops of spiced wine into his mouth.
    “You liked the wine?” Allisandra asked.
    He shrugged. “Not bad, for human wine,” he said. “I trust I’ll need something to brace me against the rain.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Gor admitted. “Maybe I should—”
    “Gor!” Allisandra cried. “You said you—”
    Gor waved her off. “Bah, you’re worse than a wife.”
    “I need you,” she reminded him.
    Gor sighed and nodded. Before he could say more, the barmaid walked out of the kitchen with a fresh platter filled with plates and bowls of steaming food. Thoughts of rain and more time in the saddle disappeared at the promise of warm food in their bellies.
     
    * * * *
     
    Namitus led the following morning through the matted grasses of the plains. The sky was overcast but the rain had stopped in the early morning hours while they huddled among the edge of the forest in their camp. The air was thick with fog as the morning gave way to midday and tried